New paintings and regular art updates.
Two large blackbirds in a nest, one seeps, the other flutters. They have collected everything from apple cores to brass bells, keys to brooches. Theyay be Molly Leighs familiar. In one of the scenes of the Opera “Who is Molly Leigh”
Great props by makers at the BArts art company.
A bird in a tree…
I always find finger painting trees and details difficult in digital apps, I really need to find my digital stylus out, but I don’t know where its gone. This was drawn in the Sketchbook app.
Anyway this fits in with the poem I wrote this morning. The bird on the tree is probably a blackbird (it’s difficult to draw something that delicate accurately). I loved creating this because it’s different to my usual style. And I’m really pleased with the colour combination of yellow overlaying black and grey.
It’s just after 5am now. I got up because my toes hurt (gout?) on the other foot to the one I had broken my toenail on. Long boring story…
Anyway it’d still dark so I’m sitting here by the light of a standard lamp and trying to sleep with my foot uncovered so there’s no pressure on it.
But through the window I can hear the lilting song of what I think is either a Robin or a Blackbird. I haven’t heard them in the morning during the winter, so I guess spring might just be on the way. It’s lovely to hear them, possibly marking out their territory in the tangled trees and bushes we call our garden. Mind you they have to be aware of the local cats. Mine are all inside snuggled up, but I hope they are singing high up in the branches. X
I see all ways
Up, down, side to side
A window on the world
No where to hide.
Flying through space
Into the distance
Blackbird swoops
Sings and spirals
In joy and love.
Like my heart
In the summer
Like a butterfly
Fluttering.
Hot and humid
I have to sit in the shade
UV’s too high
Pollen count too
Had cherries and cream
For high tea today
Now I need a cuppa tea
To make me feel cool.
Blackbird is singing
In the garden today
Water to drink
In an old shallow tray.
No, it’s not snowing here, but it’s chilly and windy enough to send a shiver through any birds body. We are feeding them sunflower hearts, mixed wild bird food and mealy worms (which the Robin seems to love). I know the weather won’t improve for a few weeks, but I hope when the spring arrives we get Blue Tits nesting again. I might buy a new nest box for them as the old ones look a bit worn out. The hole they get in through was worn away by their claws as they fly in and hop out. Looking after our local wild bird population is a responsibility.
Despite it being the start of January I am listening to a beautiful dawn chorus. It is either a Robin or a Blackbird. That’s because I’m struggling to sleep again. But hearing the liquid notes and swirling tunes is fascinating and lovely. I’m just sitting quietly and I can hear strong birdsong despite having double glazing. Each tune or snippet of song only lasts for a little while, then there is a short gap and the music starts again. There is no other sound out there. It’s too early for traffic or footsteps. Just a high series of tweets and whistles cascading from a small bird.
The weather forecast is for lower temperatures and snow rain and ice to return over the next few days. I shall make sure the birds in our garden have food and water. They deserve it for creating such beautiful song. I could not get a photo so excuse my drawing of the garden. Its full of trees and bushes. Now other birds are joining in. Excuse me while I listen… X
My hubby has just been out in the garden and discovered a large hedgehog eating the mealworms we put out for the blackbirds and Robins.
His nightly parambulation also resulted in him seeing a frog by the pond.
This afternoon we saw a baby robin perched by the pond. I think we really do have a natural garden.
The drawing is an attempt to draw a hedgehog. Bit bald in parts!
X
This was the cloud
that rattled the windows,
drowned out birdsong
made my hubby swear in surprise.
This is the cloud
I tried to film
Flashes and rumbles
Forked lightening
Heavy rain it brings.
This was the cloud
That the blackbird sang to,
dueting the flashes
overwhelmed by thunder
liquid notes flying up to heaven,
rain falling in response.
Today’s drawing session, these are for my Urban Sketchers Stoke-on-Trent daily challenge. I thought I would share them, I was planting up pots and trying to tidy up, plus attacking the ivy that’s taken over the garden. Finally had a beer with my hubby and then came round onto the back yard to listen to the blackbird singing on the chimney tops. That was wonderful. So melodious
X
Mallaband-Brown